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Morphological and DNA-based identification methods to assess earthworm diversity

New publication on morphological and DNA-based identification methods to assess earthworm diversity

The time-consuming and expensive identification of soil invertebrates is probably the most important reason for the lack of a German nationwide and standardised survey of soil organisms. The present publication should contribute to solving this problem. Earthworms and soil were sampled at 25 sites, and the animals were identified morphologically and using DNA-based identification methods: community DNA (comDNA) and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding.

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Report published on the evaluation of soil biodiversity via DNA from soil organism samplesK. Duis

Report published on the evaluation of soil biodiversity via DNA from soil organism samples

Germany still lacks a nationwide and standardised survey of soil organisms, although a comprehensive infrastructure for such a survey is available with approx. 800 permanent soil monitoring sites (Bodendauer­beobachtungsflächen, BDF). At present, not all federal states perform biodiversity surveys on their permanent soil monitoring sites. This is most likely due to the fact that the […]

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Chemical sensitivity of earthworms from field populationsD. Leib

New publication on chemical sensitivity of earthworms from field populations

The environmental risk of pesticides for nontarget soil macroorganisms has mainly been assessed using the compost earthworm Eisenia fetida. However, E. fetida does not occur in agroecosystems and it is generally less sensitive than other earthworm species. Thus, the extrapolation of its response to pesticides to other earthworm species may lead to uncertainties in the […]

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Global data on earthworm abundance, biomass, diversity and corresponding environmental propertiesD. Leib

Publication on global data on earthworm abundance, biomass and diversity

Data collected by ECT in the frame of various research projects in the last decades contributed to a publication on the global abundance and diversity of earthworms. Earthworms are an important soil taxon as ecosystem engineers, providing a variety of crucial ecosystem functions and services. Little is known about their diversity and distribution at large […]

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An adapted test design for earthworm field studies was developed combining a NOEC and ECx approach and a pilot field study was performed.ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH

Report published on adaptations for a harmonized field-testing procedure and risk assessment of earthworms

A project funded by the German Environment Agency was performed to provide scientifically robust and practical information on the variability of the endpoints assessed in earthworm field studies, the statistical significance of the results and the level of the statistically detectable effects of the chemicals tested with the aim of developing suggestions for improving the […]

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D. Leib

New publication: Toxicity of carbendazim to earthworms under tropical and temperate conditions

Research on potential side-effects of pesticides on beneficial organisms has focused on temperate test species and conditions. Thus, there is a need for ecotoxicity studies for pesticides under tropical conditions. The present study aimed to compare the acute and chronic toxicity of the fungicide carbendazim to the earthworm Eisenia fetida under tropical and temperate conditions. […]

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Microbial functional standards for soil quality assessmentK. Duis

New publication on microbial functional standards for soil quality assessment

The activity of microorganisms in soil is important for a robust functioning of soil and related ecosystem services. There is a necessity to identify the composition, diversity, and function of the soil microbiome to evaluate its properties and functioning and to assess ecotoxicological effects due to anthropogenic activities. Although numerous microbiological methods exist or are […]

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Effects of waste materials on Caenorhabditis elegansS. Höss

New publication: Effects of waste materials on Caenorhabditis elegans

The ecotoxicological characterisation of waste according to the European Waste List (HP14) is part of its hazard classification, which is based on 15 different hazardous properties and should include toxicity tests representing the aquatic and terrestrial compartment. Besides established soil toxicity tests with bacteria, plants, and earthworms, the standardised test with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans […]

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New developments in the toxicity testing of soil organisms – protecting soil biodiversityD. Leib

Further development of toxicity tests with soil organisms – protection of biodiversity in soils

The project objective was to identify and quantify uncertainties that occur in the environmental risk assessment (ERA) of pesticides, specifically for the soil compartment. The project was based on the assessment that the general approach of employing surrogate species and experimental setups to assess the effects of pesticides has certain shortcomings that affect the outcome […]

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ECT at the 1st International earthworm congress

ECT at First International Earthworm Congress

The ‘1st International Earthworm Congress’ (IEC 1) takes place in Shanghai (China) from 24 to 29 June 2018. Jörg Römbke is member of the scientific committee of this conference. In addition, ECT contributes with the following two presentations: […]

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